Creating the Path to Success in the Classroom

<p>This is a book for all faculty who are concerned with promoting the persistence of all students whom they teach.Most recognize that faculty play a major role in student retention and success because they typically have more direct contact with students than others on campus. However little attention has been paid to role of the faculty in this specific mission or to the corresponding characteristics of teaching teacher-student interactions and connection to student affairs activities that lead to students' long-term engagement to their academic success and ultimately to graduation.At a time when the numbers of underrepresented students - working adults minority first-generation low-income and international students - is increasing this book a companion to her earlier Teaching Underprepared Students addresses that lack of specific guidance by providing faculty with additional evidence-based instructional practices geared toward reaching all the students in their classrooms including those from groups that traditionally have been the least successful while maintaining high standards and expectations.Recognizing that there are no easy answers Kathleen Gabriel offers faculty ideas that can be incorporated in or modified to align with faculty's existing teaching methods. She covers topics such as creating a positive and inclusive course climate fostering a community of learners increasing engagement and students' interactions activating connections with culturally relevant material reinforcing self-efficacy with growth mindset and mental toughness techniques improving lectures by building in meaningful educational activities designing reading and writing assignments for stimulating deep learning and critical thinking and making grade and assessment choices that can promote learning.</p>